Morrison a chance to join Meninga on sidelines during Fiji clash

Suva: Scott Morrison will become the first Prime Minister to attend the PM's XIII game - and now coach Mal Meninga has gone one step further and invited Australia's leader to stand next to him on the sideline during the action.

Meninga has enjoyed Morrison's passion for the game - he is Cronulla's No. 1 ticket-holder - and confirmed he was keen for the PM to experience the action from as close as it gets.

PM's XIII coach Mal Meninga runs the team through their paces in Fiji.Credit:NRL Photos

Morrison touches down in Fiji on Friday and will give Meninga his answer just before kick-off against the Bati.

"It would be fantastic, it would be excellent if the PM can join me," Meninga told the Herald. "He'll have fairly good security on the sideline, so he can come out there, or even giving the players a pre-match motivational speech.

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"It's his team, it's the PM's team, he has some really good input and a philosophy and strategy around the team and how he wants to reward loyalty to the game, as well as the young fellas. We've done that with this team.

"If he is in the sheds, in a box or out there on the sideline with me, I'm happy for any of it to occur."

Morrison requested Paul Gallen be given a fitting farewell from the game and to lead the PM's XIII against Fiji, only for the retiring Sharks legend to have prior commitments.

Robbie Farah was another retiring icon of the game Morrison wanted to acknowledge one last time in the green and gold, only for the out-going West Tiger to be still struggling with a broken leg.

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Such is the love for rugby league Morrison attended the Sharks game at PointsBet Stadium the day after he swept to a surprise election result earlier this year.

Meninga is happy to follow in the footsteps of Canberra teammate Ricky Stuart and call the shots from the sideline during the PM's XIII.

"There will be a lot of interchange going on, it's four-quarter footy and you get a feel for the game," Meninga said. "That's what Ricky does, he gets a feel for it, and you get to understand what the talk is like. In the bigger games you sit up high because of a strategy point of view, but either way is fine."

Broncos prop Payne Haas missed the captain's run in stifling heat at Suva's ANZ Stadium because he had a boil removed but will definitely feature.

Fiji celebrated their national day on Thursday and are expected to fill ANZ Stadium to see their local stars take on NRL stars including skipper Wade Graham, Jake Trbojevic and Clint Gutherson.

At the start of the year Morrison pledged financial support, as part of the $40 million Australia-Pacific Sports Linkages Program, to Fiji's Ron Massey Cup bid.